AFRICA NEWS
Black Mountain now data driven
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unlock more value. We are excited to
partner with Sandvik and incorporate the
OptiMine technology into Vedanta Zinc
International’s exciting digital strategy.”
OptiMine’s suite of digital tools
analyse and optimise mining production
and processes. It integrates all relevant
data into one source, delivering both
powerful real-time and predictive insights
to improve operations.
Currently, BMM’s operation comprises
two underground operations — Deeps
and Swartberg — and a processing plant.
The Deeps shaft produces copper, lead,
and zinc, with silver as a by-product, and
Sandvik is set to deliver a full OptiMine
platform to accelerate Vedanta Zinc
International’s Black Mountain Mining
(BMM) operations in South Africa’s
Northern Cape Province.
Offering world-class mining safety,
efficiency, and productivity, the OEM-
independent OptiMine digital platform
includes equipment/asset location
tracking, planning and task management,
scheduling, monitoring equipment and
operations, and OptiMine Analytics with
IBM Watson IoT.
The scope includes trucks,
loaders, and drills. The system will be
commissioned early in 2019.
“OptiMine gives us end-to-end
visibility and control over our underground
mining operations,” says Andre Trytsman,
general manager at BMM. “It was
important to us to have the full scope,
from scheduling to analytics, to ensure
we’re optimised for the safest and
most productive operation possible.
The OptiMine platform is the next step
in Black Mountain’s digital journey,
delivering efficiency and increasing
operational performance, allowing us to
the Swartberg mine produces primarily
copper and lead, with silver as a by-
product. BMM is also developing the
Gamsberg Project: a new zinc mine in the
Northern Cape district of South Africa.
“The process will become fully
transparent and predictable based on the
advanced OptiMine data management
and analytics capabilities. This means
Black Mountain Mines will leverage the
full value of digitalisation, and we’re
really pleased to partner with them to
achieve their goals,” says Patrick Murphy,
president: Rock Drills and Technologies at
Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology.
OptiMine’s scope includes trucks, loaders, and drills.
MARCH 2019
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